Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles leaves no doubt on how he feels about Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner
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When the Tennessee Vols hired Jim Knowles to replace Tim Banks as the program’s defensive coordinator, attention immediately shifted to what the rest of UT’s defensive staff would look like after the coaching change.
Knowles brought a few new coaches with him, including co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Anthony Poindexter, cornerbacks coach Derek Jones, and LEOs coach Andrew Jackson, as well as several analysts.
(Cornerbacks coach Willie Martinez and outside linebackers coach LeVorn Harbin weren’t retained by Knowles.)
Most Tennessee fans were very happy that defensive line coach Rodney Garner, who will turn 60 later this summer, was retained by Knowles.
Garner’s status was up in the air early in the offseason in part because he had no previous connection to Knowles.
Jim Knowles drops strong quote on Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner
Knowles met with reporters Thursday in Knoxville and he was asked for his thoughts on Garner.
Tennessee’s new defensive coordinator was quick to label Garner as an “SEC legend”.
“Rodney Garner’s a legend, so I’m going to start right there,” said Knowles. “He’s really a legend when it comes to coaching the D-line. And [he ‘s an] an SEC legend. I think he’s extremely well-known, and when you watch him, he coaches his players very hard, but he loves them right after that.
“That’s a unique combination. That’s how I like to be — challenge them, work them hard, but make sure they know that you care about them. He’s all about that.”
There aren’t many assistant coaches, if any, in college football that are more respected than Garner, who is in his second stint as an assistant coach at Tennessee.
Since Garner was willing to stick around in Knoxville, it was a no-brainer for Knowles to keep the longtime defensive line coach on staff.
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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Feb 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Nashville section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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